LETTERS

May 9, 2011: Wind turbines, health care, just deserts

No wind turbines

The arrogance of Travis Bullard from Eolian Renewable Energy as quoted in the BDN comes as no surprise. His company never produced a single megawatt of energy yet is attempting to install four to six industrial wind turbines on Mount Waldo in Frankfort.

His slant on the project is that three radio towers clustered at the peak constitute an industrial site, so why not disfigure the entire mountain, is ludicrous. He dismisses the opposition as “a knee jerk reaction from a small, vocal minority.” I guess a packed gym at the annual town meeting where the article seeking support for the project was unanimously passed over is a “small, vocal minority.”

He says, “We’re willing to sit at the table and talk about it.” Eolian has talked about it at two meetings and failed to adequately answer questions without spinning them like a top. My favorite is that he wants to “reach out to the folks against the project and tease out what their concerns are.” Tease? From what I’ve heard, concerns by townspeople have been forthright, vigorously researched and articulated.

Eolian is desperate with an impending moratorium and possible ordinance and are calling residents personally — using the notion that this wind turbine project could pay to keep our elementary school open and that an ordinance would negatively affect everybody in town. None of that is based in fact.

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Eolian’s manipulative and disingenuous divide and conquer “community outreach” strategy will ultimately backfire because residents know what’s good for this town and it’s not industrial wind turbines.

Brad Eden

Frankfort

• • •

Just deserts

As my son waits in Germany to be deployed within the next two weeks, amidst concerns from Army brass of terrorist retaliation over the death of Osama bin Laden, we shared a text message chuckle imagining the terrorist’s scramble to find his 700 virgins in hell, of all places.

I call that just deserts.

Kathleen Rogers

Ellsworth

• • •

Parking courtesy

My son, a student at Searsport High school, is a wheelchair user. We utilize the handicap spaces for their intended use, to allow wheelchair users, among others, to enter and exit their vehicle.

Many times we must wait for vehicles that appear to have parked there simply for convenience and many times are parked width-wise. We have to wait while drivers finish conversations, load and unload able-bodied passengers or who have simply parked their vehicles there. Additionally, I am unable to back out as others have blocked my car so they can load and unload passengers.

I understand that these spaces are tempting, as the spaces are close to the school entrance and many times may appear to be unused.

Next time you are tempted to park in a handicap space just because it’s close to the building, or block a space “just for a minute” or even park in front of the cut out curb that my son must use to enter and exit the building, think of why those spaces are there and of all the people who need that space due to a physical conditions. Be thankful that you, your children and your passengers have the ability to walk to and from the many spaces that are provided for those that do not physically require a handicap space.

Jessica Hall

Searsport

• • •

Health care bill travesty

Republican legislators in Augusta have made a mockery of democracy by passing an anti-health care bill without even reading it.

A video by the Maine People’s Alliance show Rep. David Richardson of Carmel, Rep. Peter Edgecomb of Caribou, Rep. Jeffrey Gifford of Lincoln Center and Rep. Howard McFadden of Dennysville admitting on camera that they had not read the 29-page bill, LD 1333, before voting “yes” on it along party lines.

They are not the only ones, as committee members had less than an hour to review and discuss the bill before passing it. They refused to hold public hearings where citizens could express their opinions. This is a travesty.

This bill, written by insurance companies, will raise rates for middle-age and older people and for those who have a chronic health care problem or history of an expensive health issue. It will raise taxes and create another government agency to administer a fund for “high-risk” Mainers.

Let your legislator know how you feel about this raid on the health of Mainers and on the shameful process in which it was approved.

Linda Buckmaster

Belfast

• • •

Health care fix is right

Concerning LD 1333, the bill in the Maine Legislature which was passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday and is to be considered in the Senate next week: It’s about time!

There are several hundred insurance companies that write health insurance policies nationally. Current state laws leave us with three or four companies selling very expensive policies. One has a virtual monopoly and a very cozy relationship with the state government.

Those who pay for their own health insurance pay far more than citizens of other states because of these current state laws. Those who can’t afford expensive health insurance remain uninsured or make their way into MaineCare, a program paid for by the taxpayers, which was originally intended to help the truly poor.

We need more health insurance options. LD 1333 will give us those options. Frankly, it’s my health. It’s my money paying for my health insurance. Neither the terms of my health insurance, nor from whom I purchase health insurance should be any of the Legislature’s business.

Space limitation doesn’t allow discussion of the negative impact of needlessly expensive health insurance on school, state and municipal budgets and on job growth in Maine. Medicare, for those over age 65 or who are disabled, is a federal program, not affected by LD 1333.

Support LD 1333! Call your state senator. Urge her or him to vote “Aye!” The state Senate phone number: 287-1540.